Bellingham Marina Fire March 30, 2012

Bellingham Marina Fire March 30, 2012 2 FATALITIES 12 BOATS DESTROYED Incident Timeline March 30, 2012 05:26:55 Initial caller - 215 North State Street Fire in the Marina area Spreading incredibly fast Massive, Massive Fire Its about doubled in size since Ive been on

the phone with you and estimates fire is 200 feet long Incident Timeline March 30, 2012 Second caller 05:28:54 Boat owner located in E-Dock area

G-dock boathouse on fire Heard two explosions The whole place is on fire The entire row of boathouses Were going to get out of here There are live-aboards in there on the endI have no idea what condition they are in. Fire units were being dispatched while this call takes place

Multiple Additional Calls Within seconds; South Hill Local industries Reports of victims trapped on boat Trapped victims calling 911 Dispatchers handling multiple calls and verifying exact location of fire and victim status. Fire Location Fire Location

Photograph of the west end of the G-Dock East boathouse. Taken approximately 05:35 a.m. by second caller who was on E-Dock about 400 feet away from fire. Photograph courtesy of South Whatcom Fire Authority. Image shows fire looking from west, taken after 2nd alarm units arrived, approximately 2030 minutes after initial alarm. Marina Fires Grow Fast Really Fast Early detection makes all the difference in controlling marina fires: Smoke/heat detectors Alarms and alarm monitoring

Engineered fire protection features (Sprinklers and/or venting/blocking systems) Joint Effort Second alarm resources Fire department off-duty staff Multiple Whatcom County fire agencies

Bellingham Police Coast Guard Department of Ecology Port of Bellingham Federal Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms agents Support Officers Ongoing Incident

Until proven otherwise the site had to be treated as a crime scene Search warrant issued Put all salvage operations under Command Everything video taped, photographed and cataloged as potential evidence Support officers worked with families. Managing the press was challenginganswers take awhile

Unified Command 12-hour operational periods Appoint Command Staff & Section Chiefs Set meeting schedule Port assumes financial responsibility for salvage and clean-up

Complete an ICS 201 Incident Briefing Six Planning Section Chiefs used in 30-days Identify initial objectives Incident Action Plans developed for each period Information released was approved by ICs Spill Response

400 barrels of petroleum recovered 1300 barrels of oily liquids recovered 110 yards of oily solids and fire debris recovered Decontamination of barges, docks, boom, etc. completed 24 days after the fire.

Twelve 30-yard dumpsters of miscellaneous debris were not disposed of until mid-August 11 of the vessels still remain stored as evidence Cause and Origin Bellingham Fire and Bellingham Police

conducted a joint investigation April 10th Agents from ATF join local investigators Due to the extensive fire damage and submersion the cause and origin of the fire remain undetermined Insurance representatives continue to investigate Lessons Learned

Timing and conditions of this fire meant we were far behind before our arrival. Luck and multi-agency fire-fighting actions prevented even further damage and loss. Incident highlighted need to work with Port and boat owners on improving fire prevention, detection and suppression. Draft Marina Fire Code Changes

Maximum quantity of fuel that can be stored in boathouses (excluding vessel fuel) Ongoing inspection process Establish exiting requirements Increase standpipe fire flow volume Installation of smoke/heat vents in all existing/new boathouses Installation of fire sprinklers in boathouses greater than 2500 sq. ft. Interlocal agreement between Port and City on purchase and operation of a fireboat